So the car will be load legal very soon and I want to rebuild my garage - it's an old damp concrete pre-fab one.

I can get the help of a bricky if I need it, but hoping to do most of the work myself. I've got a large concrete base already there.

So, what should I build it from? What's cheapest and easiest to put up? I would like it as dry and insulated as I can without spending too much.

I thought of doing it in those lightweight grey blocks, is this ok to do? Will it need to be rendered to make it more water tight? And what about the roof? What's cheap but will give insulaltion? It will also need a side door and windows which I was hoping to pick up cheap secondhand, though I will buy a new swing up door for it.

And to top it all (as it can be at least 20 feet longer than a standard garage and three feet wider) my wife was hoping to have the end (which is south facing) as a greenhouse type structure.

Your thoughts please gentlemen

Lightweight grey blocks are great, easy to use, fast to build so no need for a bricky, just make sure the mortar is weaker than the blocks themselves or the joints crack, 6:1 mix. alternatively buy the glue, then its lego building.

These blocks can take a fully tiled roof so no issues with strength. A decent plasterer will render in a day, maybe £100 a wall.

My garage is rendered and pebledashed breeze block with a brick front to match the house, Its 14feet by 35 feet. It has a pitched tiled roof, which turned out to be about £200 more than a flat roof, and needs no maintenance other than occasional ridge and eve pointing.

Its been up 13 years with no problems, footings were 2 feet deep, but half of one side is built on the original base, I built it round the outside of an existing concrete sectional garage, then demolished that inside.

I think it cost me about 2 - 3 grand, but that was in 1996, my only real reccomendation would be to build a pitch roof, rather than flat.

You could build yours a bit shorter than your max and build a conservatory type lean too at the back for the greenhouse, and the back few inches of your garage as a potting shed.

Is it possible to build a garage for £250 if you do most of the work yourself and get a good cheap donor garage

(Sorry - In a bank holiday mood)

This might not be helpfull for you but

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Thermalite-High-Strength-7-Lightweight-Concrete-Blocks_W0QQitemZ300311002832QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item30031 1002832&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50




Somebody will get a bargain

[Edited on 1/5/09 by l0rd]

[Edited on 1/5/09 by l0rd]

Hey Jasper. I did the exact same thing when I bought my 1st house 3 years ago. An old concrete panelled, asbestos roof prefab garage. Council took asbestos for free, and I knocked it down. I got a bricklayer from work (I work in construction) to help sort out the bonding, and setting it square.

I put in 2 course of scotch commons, followed by damp proof membrane. Then I built the rest out of hollow concrete blocks (Don't use internal lightweight blocks). I got a door frame and door, all the blocks etc from Travis Perkins. I then made a flat roof with a 2" slope, and felted it. I made the windows from timber frames and old glass from a glazers (free).

I saved a fortune on the garage door, by making my own from plywood, to create 2 barn, style, doors. This was not only super cheap, but much more secure and its creates a much wider opening than a garage door. Plus I can hang timber / ladders / metal etc off the ceiling, cos the garage door doesn't swing in.

In total my garage was out together for around £350. I did all the construction my self. I borrowed a bell mixer from work to save cash as well.

EDIT: Forgot to mention. Rendering isn't required to make it water right. I used a couple of coats of a good masonry paint. You will find though, unless its heated, condensation forms inside. Just make sure all timber used is treated / painted.

[Edited on 1/5/09 by deezee]

That's useful, cheers chaps....

Jasper

Have a look at this thread.

http://locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=111213

Specifically the link to JB's diary / how to:-

http://www.beardmorebros.co.uk/website%20pages/how%20to/build_garage.htm

HTH

Mike

tip - if your garage is drafty its dry!

all the drafty air takes away the moisture - or at least it did in my garage.

Ahh - that build diary is really helpful....

Draft is ok, soaking wet isn't!

I definitely agree with going for a pitched roof over a flat, when I was working in maintenance there was a row of 6 garages, 5 flat, 1 pitched. Guess which was the only one that didn't have mouldy beams?

Make sure you check with the local planning department especially if changing the style of the garage from flat to pitched roof. May or may not need permission, but get their decision in writing if they say it's ok.